Apparatus for the sterilization of milk.



A. SHELMERDINE. APPARATUS FOR THEISTERILIZATION 0F MILK.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEQ, |913.

Patented July 20, 1915.

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yANTHONY SHELMEBDINE, or LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR'THE `S'.IIEIRILIZATJION 0F MILK.

l Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed .T une 9, 1913. Serial N o. 772,607.

To all lwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANTHONY SHELMER- DINE, subject of the King ofEnglandyresiding at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Sterilizationof Milk, of which the following is/,a specification.

'I his invention has reference to the sterilizatlon of milk and cream,by the electric or electro-chemical process; and it has for its objectto provide improvements in connection with this process, which rendersthe action desired, namely, complete sterilization, or sterilizationsuch as can be safely relied on, assured.

lIn prior attempts to sterilize milk by the electric or electro-chemicalmethod, it has been proposed to use an electric current, and to pass itthrough the liquid alternately in opposite directions, while the milk isiowing through the cell or apparatus in which it is being treated, andalso to usel currents of various degrees both in quantity and pressurebut such pressure was comparatively low, such as 200 volts; and I haveprior to the present time, carried out tests and experiments in thismanner; but none of these modes of carrying out this process, eitherwhere the electrical method itself is used, or where the introduction ofon the current being passed through the milk produces antisepticsubstances or media, have been effective for the reason that if thequantity of current is sufficient to destroy the pathogenic bacteria,the milk becomes changed in quality or character bv the treatment; or,on the other hand, if the' quantity of current is small,`the sterilizingaction is not effective.

To accomplishthis end, I have conducted a great many tests of variouskinds; and I have found that the problem of sterilizing milk presentsspecial diiiculties, as the bacteria must be destroyed, leaving thechemical composition of the milk unchanged, and lit has been discovered,that to render them subject to the lethal effect of electricity,currents' of abnormal voltages must be employed, namely, as high as from2000 to 3000 volts, or more, as these voltages'are necessary,apparently, to enable the current to act upon the bacteria, and destroythem. And the apparatus used consists of a tube of considerable lengthwith electrodes at the ends, and an' intermediate part, throughsubstances which which a current of 1}- kilowatts at a voltage of 3000volts, alternating current, of about 50 periodicity, is transmitted, andby it, the destruction referred to was accomplished; but, of course, indifferent sizes of cells, the general ratio preserved.

This apparatus is illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is ageneral elevation, and Fig. 2 is a detail. Fig. 3 is a cletail showingthe electrode.

a is a cylindrical tube, say of glass and of about t to l diameter. Nearthe inlet and dischargeendsv and in the middle is an enlarged part inwhich the electrodes c are placed, the distance apart ofthel parts bbeing about 12 to 20; and the alternating current passesv through themilk iowing through` the lengths of tube between them.

/ With regard to the distance apart of the electrodes, in order tocontrol the current, and to establish and control the potential orvoltage required, relatively large distances apart of the electrodes andlengths or dimensions of milk through which the current has to betransmitted, are very requisiteyPatented July 20, 19.15.

of current will have to be next in a bent course owing to the presence vof the electrode; that is, it takes a dip under the lower edge or aroundthe side edges of each electrode. 3

A The electrodes 0 are fixed in the plugs 71, in the parts b; and ascrewed plug z' or tap is itted in their lower parts so that they can beemptied when required.

`Through the apparatus or cell shown-as suming the bore ofthe tube to be13'. di-

lameter-an alternating current of about 1% kilowatts at a voltage ofabout 3000 volts is transmitted between the second and4 rst electrodes,and the second and third; the current passing throughl the milk ,betweenthesecond electrode c and the two enel ones, with the efect abovedescribed. And the quantity of milk that can be safely treated by thecurrents specified, is found to be about 10 gallons per hour.Nevertheless, it may be found safe, for the purpose of practicalsterilization, to pass -greaterquantities this cell, Whic than this;andisuch a .case the quantity ,of current employed may be the same asabove specified, 'er'init of milk treated. In isn circular, or of vv'otier curved form, the, milk beingtreated flows evenly through it;I andthere are no corners -or angles Where they vmilk can avoidbeing `acteil,upon by the electrical action, and every part of the milk therefore,isuni- 10-formly subjected toit, and none can escape being so treated;with the rresult above described. rThe temperature of the milk shouldnot be below-about 50 degrees centi- Vgrade, andnot above 60-65 degreescenti-v grade. This treatment may be carried out either on the milkalone or, if desired, in conjunction with the presence' in the milk of asuitablebody-say -for example, a small proportion of common salt-*WhicmWhile reducing the internal resistance oi milk, as

.isknown to electricians, assists in' the destruction of bacteria andsterilization of the milk; f' l While the form and arrangements of partsdescribed-and more particularly.

those set forth with iieference to the drawings--eilectively accomplishnthe objects specied, yet they may take otherji'orms; as

I for example the tube a, instead of ybeingstraight, might be in thelform of a U, or

the' like, or of other shape or -iorm that` may be convenient, also itcan be arrangedr in multiple, @in which casefthe apparatus A wouldcomprise a plurality ci' small tubes of sizes such as specified.` Gr,again, the tube or conduits through' which the milk passes may becomparatively thin in one dimenate mension, and broad or Wide in theother, so.

as to constitute a relatively thin and broad way through the apparatusfrom electrode ,j to electrode, or other suitable variation in size orshape,

1What is claimed is l 1. Apparatus for sterilizing milk or cream byelectricity, comprising a tube of insulated material of small area incross section, havtrodes disposed in the chambers and ex? tending acrossthe Whole bore oit the tube,

and standing away from the ends thereof;

and a passage around said electrodes consttilting a bent passage for themilk or cream flowing through the tube and chambers; substantially asset forth.

bln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence ci' two subscribing Witnesses.

nari-noni?, snnniunnnrun liitnesses:

ANDREW Tannen, Rosana*

